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I've taught pipers of all ages and all ability levels from around the world. One feature of bagpipe music continues to be challenge for all of us: the dot-cut. In the early stages, pipers struggle to get the short notes short enough. Advanced players need extra practice to get 100% consistent on the dot-cut patterns in their tunes. When the rhythms get complicated, the tempo gets fast, or the technique gets cluttered often the dot-cut is the first thing that goes.   I'm always thinking about ways pipers learn their skills, and considering new methods that might solve or fix these persistent common issues. I wonder if the way pipers are taught is part of our common dot-cut challenges. We learn the notes, we learn grace notes, we learn a few embellishments, then a few tunes, and so on. Often the dot-cut is presented after we've learned to play and gotten used to playing things ...